Herbst

Veronica hat unsere Reise super organisiert. Wenn wir unterwegs Fragen hatten, hat sie immer weitergeholfen. Ich würde jederzeit wieder mit ihr eine Reise buchen. Wir waren als Familie 3 Wochen in Ecuador: Quito, Artesana, Papallacta, Amazonas, Banos, Riobamba, Quilotoa, Santa Cruz, Isabella

We spent 17 days in Ecuador and the Galapagos organized through Evaneos (around €6000, excluding flights). The experience had some great moments, but also several disappointing aspects that affected the overall value for money. What we loved: Our guide, Freddy, was exceptional — friendly, knowledgeable, and always proactive. He solved many organizational problems on the spot and made sure we still enjoyed the trip. He went above and beyond with tips, explanations, and care. We also really liked the hotels, and the transfers in the Galapagos went smoothly once they started. The boat excursions were also nice, even if it was not the option we asked for. What went wrong: The initial itinerary was poorly designed — mostly mainstream tourist spots instead of local experiences, and several incorrect time schedules (one taxi transfer was even planned at the wrong time, which could have made us miss our boat). Some activities listed in the description, like those with a naturalist guide, were missing. The second planned visit to Cotopaxi National Park couldn't take place because the agency didn't have the required license, leaving us with an unplanned day. Communication from the agency contact was often defensive or impolite when we pointed out issues, and they didn't warn us proactively about changes or mistakes. A major safety issue was the poor acclimatization before our Iliniza Norte climb (over 5100 m). We were told we'd do two acclimatization hikes beforehand, but they were just short, easy walks. This made the high-altitude climb dangerous, and we both experienced severe headaches and panic attacks. The guide for that day only spoke Spanish and didn't seem concerned about our condition. Despite asking for an active trip, too many days were left unstructured or with limited activities. The planned visit to the Darwin Center didn't happen either, with misleading explanations given by local staff. In summary: We are very thankful to Freddy, who truly made a difference and ensured we still had great memories from Ecuador and the Galapagos. However, the organization, wrong descriptions, and lack of communication from Evaneos make it hard for us to recommend evaneos to have a local and personalised experience. In our opinion it would not have made a difference if we had planned it over Evaneos or with an agency based in Europe.

We are very grateful to Francesca, our travel consultant, for her thorough consultation and advice on planning our two-week trip to Ecuador. We spent one week in the Galapagos Islands and one week in mainland Ecuador. While Santa Cruz in the Galapagos Islands was completely tourist-filled which we were not so expected, but Isabela Island was incredibly tranquil and peacefull which we expected. Snorkeling on Isabela Island was also a wonderful experience. We saw all the animals we wanted to see in the Galapagos Islands. We are very grateful to Francesca, our travel consultant, for her thorough consultation and advice on planning our two-week trip to Ecuador. We spent one week in the Galapagos Islands and one week on mainland Ecuador. While Santa Cruz in the Galapagos Islands was completely tourist-filled, Isabela Island was incredibly tranquil and wonderful. Snorkeling on Isabela Island was also a wonderful experience. We saw all the animals we wanted to see in the Galapagos Islands. On the mainland, we spent the whole week with Angel, who served us as our guide, interpreter, and driver, on tours of Quito city and Andean national parks such as Cotopaxi and the Valley of the Condors. We also visited markets in rural Ecuador, which was fascinating as it allowed us to get a glimpse into the lives of the local people, and we were also shown around indigenous homes. He can speak the indigenous language, an ancient language that is in danger of being lost in Ecuador, so watching him communicate with the indigenous people was a special experience. He has knowledge of a wide range of topics, including culture, history, nature, Ecuadorian life in the past and present, politics and social issues. I learned a lot from him. I believe that anyone would fully enjoy their trip to Ecuador if they had the opportunity to meet a guide like him. I am very grateful. This was our first time in South America, and it was the one of our best trips ever. We would like to return to Ecuador and have become more interested in other South American countries. It was a trip that we can confidently recommend to our friends. Thank you very much.